:: Reflections of Bukit Chandu, Old Ford Factory ::

Yes...I love museums. In the recent years, Singapore has opened and renovated a few museums. Being a Singaporean, i guess i ought to know more about my own country...After all, the Singapore Girl should know about her own homeland, isn't it? But that's beside the point lah. I am interested in museums and more often than not, I like visiting these places in other countries to have a deeper understanding of their history and culture.

I have always wanted to go the Reflections of Bukit Chandu, where the fiercest battle was fought; where the line of battle was; where our very own hero was born.

I strongly reccommend that you guys should go there one day. I really learned a lot of our history, more about War World II from there. How come i don't seem to remember studying all these in my history classes in secondary one and two??? I felt very ashamed of myself...that i hadn't know this earlier.

At this museum, there is a show at certain timings that depict the situation back then. I was totally touched by it. In fact, i teared.

Story of the Bukit Chandu Battle
Bukit Chandu was where the last line of defence before the British surrendered and where the Malay Regiment, led by Lt Adnan, fought bravely. At midnight, as they were guarding at the foot of the hill, they saw some soldiers coming in who dressed like the Punjabis (own Indian Army). It was Lt Adnan who sensed that that wasn't the usual Punjabis formation and ordered his men to fire. Indeed, it was the Japanese who disguised themselves. The japanese general, Yamashita, was furious that his soldiers were killed, called on a full force to charge the hill. Lt Adnan expected them to come back and rallied his soldiers to fight bravely. As the Japanese soldiers charged, Lt Adnan and his men ran out of ammunition and medical supplies. His men were asking him for an action. That was when he said guns were not their only weapon, the knives and their fist were just as lethal. And that was when they put on their bravest hand-to-hand fighting which resulted in massive casualties. Lt. Adnan urged his men to persist and refused to surrender. Of course, in the end, they lost.

The japanese ordered them to surrender and take out their uniforms. They refused and held on to their motto: Ta'at Setia, which means Loyal and True. The resistance of the Malay Regiment angered the Japanese, and when they captured Lt Adnan, they dragged and pushed him into a gunnysack. The Japanese soldiers then hung him by his legs on a cherry tree and then bayoneted him again and again. His throat was slit repeatedly. Even after the battle, no one was allowed (or dared) to bring his body for burial.

In addition, there was a point when they Japanese took their anger out at the nearby Alexander Hospital. They killed everyone they saw there...a total of about 150 to 200 innocent patients and hospital staff were killed. I was furious when I learned about this!

This is our very own hero *salutes*:
http://www.answers.com/topic/adnan-bin-saidi


This is what I just found out:

Damn, they should have persist a little more ya?

You wanna see the villian, Yamashita? I know i shouldn't this when i see him...but but but i just couldn't help it:
HAHAHAHAHA!

Memories at Old Ford Factory

ok, honestly, I don't really feel much about this place except for its AV theatre and shows as well as that that is the exact place when Percival signed our surrender agreement to Yamashita.

There are many newspaper clipping displayed...and i feel confused just by looking at it. Its too lengthy ah. However, what i like about this place is their short clips on the various parts of the war. What i recommend is clip on "The bukit Chandu Battle". It is an animation by Nanyang Polytechnic and i must say its commendable. I could not only visualised what happened back then, but also feel the emotions inside of me. I tried to hold back my tears. I'm such a cry baby isn't it. But really...it really is touching! I always watch these war time movies...always feel touched by their heroic and selfless acts.... Little did i know such things happened on my very own home land too. I'm very touched and...very proud.

OK...another new thing I've learned:
Alien = Chinese??